Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

Committee (Chairman Maloney and Legislators Berky, Delaune, Lapp, Litts, Maio

and Rodriguez)

 Legislator David B. Donaldson offers the following:

WHEREAS, Ulster County presently owns and operates buses and bus

shelters, in conjunction with operating the Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT)

system throughout Ulster County, including ingress and egress to various

municipalities; and

WHEREAS, UCAT is a vital component of the various public services the

County provides within its service area; and

WHEREAS, the primary purpose of the UCAT system is to provide safe and

efficient public transportation; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature believes using County buses for

the purposes of advertisement will be best achieved by following a uniform,

viewpoint-neutral standard for the display of advertising that does not interfere with

the County’s obligations to maintain passenger safety, minimize disruption to public

transportation services, ensure peace and order on the public transportation system,

protect passengers from fraudulent activities, and protect the health, safety and

welfare of passengers; and

WHEREAS, limiting bus advertisements to public service announcements will

ensure that the rules for accepting and displaying advertising are consistently

enforced and will help maintain and enhance the County’s reputation and public

image; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby establishes a policy to

display only Public Service Announcements on Ulster County buses, which includes

non-commercial and non-political advertising promoting social services and public

benefit programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, that an advertisement shall satisfy the following criteria in order

to qualify as a Public Service Announcement (PSA):

a. The sponsor of a PSA must be a government entity or a nonprofit

corporation that is exempt from taxation under § 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue

Code. 

b. The PSA must be directed to the general public or a significant segment of

the public and relate to:

i. Prevention or treatment of illness;

ii. Promotion of safety, health or personal well-being;

iii. Provision of family or child social services;

iv. Solicitation by broad-based employee contribution campaigns which

provide funds to multiple charitable organizations (e.g. United Way); or

v. Provision of services and programs that support low income citizens or

persons of disability.

c. A PSA may not include a commercial message or mention a festival, show,

sporting event, concert, lecture, or event for which an admission fee is charged; and

be it further

 RESOLVED, that this policy shall be effective January 1, 2017, and no

provision of this Resolution shall supplant or contradict the terms of existing

contracts by and between the County of Ulster and existing outside vendors,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

No Action Taken in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing,

Planning and Transit on July 5, 2016

Postponed in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and

Transit on August 2, 2016

No Action Taken in Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing,

Planning and Transit on September 6, 2016

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

on__________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE